Commuters are being warned to expect further travel disruption today – even though temperatures are cooling after the hottest July day on record.

Yesterday’s hot weather caused extensive delays and cancellations across the UK’s train network, with speed restrictions imposed because of the possibility that railway tracks would buckle in the heat.

There was also damage to overhead electric wires which blocked trains between London and Luton and caused problems for trains between London and Watford, Preston and Carlisle, and in the Birmingham area.

Network Rail’s network services director Nick King said thundery downpours overnight – bringing the risk of flash flooding and power cuts – could make this morning’s rush hour equally challenging.

He added: “Our teams have been working flat out to fix the issues, however we are sorry that disruption is likely to continue into the morning.

“We are advising passengers to check with their train operators or the National Rail Enquiries website before travelling.”

Among the operators affected on Friday will be Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services from London Liverpool Street, where there will be delays until midday.

Friday should bring cooler weather – with temperatures around 23C to 25C (73.4F to 77F).

A yellow warning was issued for thunderstorms in most of England and parts of Scotland expired at 4am on Friday.

The Met Office said: “[Friday will be] another hot day in the far east, otherwise a fresher day with outbreaks of thundery rain across northern, central and eastern areas. Sunny spells in the west with isolated showers.

“[The weekend will be] humid in the north and east with heavy, thundery rain through the weekend. Elsewhere sunnier and fresher. Fewer showers by Monday, but perhaps turning wet in the South West later.”

Thursday was the hottest July day on record, with the 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge beating the previous record of 36.7C (98.1F) set in Heathrow four years ago.

It was also the second-hottest UK day, coming close to the record of 38.5C (101.3F) set in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

There were reports of people fainting on trains, major stations such as London Euston and London St Pancras were crammed with stranded commuters unable to get home, and passengers on one train had to be helped down using ladders after it was stranded near Peterborough.

Trains in and out of London Waterloo were stopped at about 7pm after a man was seen chasing a dog along the electrified tracks.

On Thursday evening, a spokesman for South Western Railway said: “I can confirm that the trespass incident involves an individual chasing a dog down the rail lines and that services have been held between Waterloo and Vauxhall stations.”

Services resumed later in the evening.

Source: Read Full Article